Method and device for distributing liquid media

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and a device for distributing liquid media, in particular extinguishing fluids. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a device of the aforementioned type which can be used to produce a fine mist of small droplets and a jet spray of large droplets at separate moments, at approximately the same operating pressure of the extinguishing fluid, depending on the outbreak and the development of the fire, whilst at the same time minimising water consumption, reducing water damage caused during a fire and increasing cost-effectiveness, by creating a modular system which can he universally installed. To achieve this, the intensity of the vortex and the proportion of fine or large droplets in the spray cone is adjusted by regulating the quantity and speed of the flow during the distribution of the extinguishing fluid in at least two sub-streams and by combining said sub-streams with at least one additional sub-stream. In addition, the adjusting process is controlled by a signal generator which responds to the outbreak and dynamic development of the fire.

[0001] The invention relates to a method of distributing liquid media, in particular extinguishing liquids like water or the like in the form of a mist or a large-droplet stream from an open line fed by a low-pressure supply line into spaces, in particular living or household rooms or the like to fight fire where the pressurized extinguishing liquid is made into individual streams and these streams are separately set in rotation and as a result the streams are combined to form a spray cone.

[0002] The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above-described method with a support on which is provided a fitting for connection to an open line connected via a shutoff valve with a supply, a flow body that is traversed by a flow passage, and a turbulence chamber surrounding the flow body, the flow passage being continuously filled and the turbulence chamber being filled as needed with the separate streams of the extinguishing liquid.

[0003] Such a dry sprinkler nozzle for making spray mists in low-pressure systems, in particular for fighting fire within stationary water-mist fire-extinguishing systems is known from EP 0 671 216. This known nozzle is built radially into a pipe of a fire-extinguishing system and is comprises of a housing holding a flow body that traversed by a conically tapering turbulence/mixing chamber. The surface oft his turbulence/mixing chamber is formed with spiral grooves with axial inlets that communicate with inlet openings for the water. An annular space permits a further stream of water into the inner turbulence/mixing chamber. There is thus stream separation. The one path leads via the inlet openings and the twist passages to cylindrical nozzle openings and there produces and inner spray cone. The second path extends via the annular chamber and tangential bores to an annular gap from which the water exits as an outer spray cone.

[0004] The known solution serves mainly for applying a large-droplet inner spray stream and a fine-droplet outer spray stream. It is not possible to obtain an initial fine-drop spray mist when the fire starts and a large-droplet spray mist when the fire is under way to apply the extinguishing media in a variably controlled manner over time.

[0005] This leads in a fire mainly to usage of a great deal of water by the stationary extinguishing system with all the inherent disadvantages of overdimensioning the pumps, pipes, and storage containers for extinguishing media in the system. A further not inconsequential disadvantage of the prior art is that the resultant water damage can completely destroy the protected property.

[0006] Starting from this state of the art it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above-described type by means of which it is possible with nearly constant supply pressure of the extinguishing means to, with time, in accordance with the whether the fire has just started or is under way to apply a fine-droplet spray mist and a large-droplet spray mist so as to minimize water use, reduce water damages in fire, and to increase the efficiency of the fire-extinguishing system in any installation.

[0007] This object is attained by a method and an apparatus of the above-described type with the characterizing features of claims 1 and 8. Preferred embodiments of the method and of the apparatus are seen in the dependent claims.

[0008] The invention is characterized above all by its simplicity and is particularly applicable to wet systems. In contrast to the known state of the art a simple flow regulation in the separated and rejoined streams of the extinguishing fluid produces an excellent influencing of the turbulence intensity in dependency of whether the fire has just started or is underway. When the streams are produced it is further possible to impinge small and large surfaces of an object to be protected with spray cones and spray streams of different shape and composition.

[0009] According to the above-given requirements as a fire starts up the apparatus according to the invention produces at first a mist like droplet stream. The signal generator can in this case be a smoke detector. As the fire develops a large-droplet spray stream is needed so a further detector, for instance a heat detector, produces a signal which acts on the adjuster of the apparatus in that the flow cross section of the opening of the slot is enlarged.

[0010] The solution according to the invention reduces water use to fight a fire substantially and simultaneously reduces water damage caused by the unregulated outflowing of the extinguishing medium. The fire-extinguishing systems can be better tailored to the dynamics of the fire as it starts and develops.

[0011] A further particular advantage of the solution according to the invention is that as a result of the plate-like construction of the support ant the variation of the flow body, the system is modular so that it can easily be set up with no problems to comply with the various requirements of existing or new fire-extinguishing systems.

[0012] Further advantages and details can be seen in the following description with reference to the attached drawings. The invention is more closely described below with reference to a specific embodiment. Therein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention, the stream flow being shown;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a section taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing; and

[0016]FIG. 4a-4 c are variations on the flow body;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention with a flow body as in FIG. 4a; and

[0018]FIG. 6 schematically shows possible variants of the flow of the stream according to the method of the invention.

[0019] The apparatus according to the invention is comprised as shown in FIG. 1 of a support body provided with an inlet fitting 1 and itself formed of a top plate 2, a distributing-chamber ring 3, a spacer plate 4, a turbulence-chamber ring 5, and an outlet plate 6, all secured by unillustrated screws in bolt holes 7 extending through all the plates and rings. The inlet 1 is screwed centrally into the top plate 2. The top plate 2 and the spacer plate 4 contain structure forming passages 8 adjustable by respective adjusters 9. The adjusters 9 are each comprised of a hollow sleeve-like body 10 closed at both ends, an adjustment arm 11 coupled with the hollow body 10 and a brake mechanism 12 or setting mechanism 42. A wall 13 of each hollow body 10 is formed with two axially aligned slot openings 14 and 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The hollow body 10 has on its upstream end near the inlet 11 a pin 17 defining an axis 16 and extending out through a hole 18 in the top plate 2. The pin 17 carries the adjustment arm 11 which can be fixed angularly by the brake mechanism 12.

[0020] The distributing-chamber ring 3 and the turbulence-chamber ring 5 are of the same axial heights as the respective slots 14 and 15. The axial height of the spacer plate 4 corresponds generally to the spacing between the vertically spaced slots 14 and 15. FIG. 3 shows the position of the slots 14 and 15 of the hollow body 10 in perspective. In this embodiment the hollow body 10 is fitted with a plug-like insert 37 which is internally formed as a flow deflector with an angled upper surface 38.

[0021] The pin 17 is in this embodiment of somewhat smaller diameter than the hollow body 10 so that the hollow body 10 has a shoulder 19 on which sits a seal washer 20 that supports and seals the hollow body 10 with respect to the top plate 2. The hollow body 10 thus passes through the distributing-chamber ring 3, the spacer plate 4, and the turbulence-chamber ring 5 and sits on a seal/bearing disk 21 seated in the outlet plate 6. On rotation of the pins 17 about the hollow-body axes the angular positions of the slots 14 changes relative to a distributing chamber 22 formed by the distributing-chamber ring 3 as does the flow cross section of the slot 14. The flow cross section of the slot openings 15 into a turbulence chamber 23 are similarly changed.

[0022] Axially centered on the inlet in the spacer plate 4 is a cylindrical flow body 24 with a central throughflow passage 25, screw-mounted so as to be vertically axially adjustable. This is done by simply providing a snap ring 29. The flow body 24 has a frustoconical head 2 27 with an outlet opening 28 that is internally also frustoconical. The head 27 of the flow body 24 extends into a funnel-shaped opening 29 of the output plate 6 that is flared into the turbulence chamber 23 and ends in an outlet opening 30 formed with an outlet flare 31 ending at a separation edge 32. The outlet flare can be of frustoconical or other shape. The head 27 and opening 28 form a funnel-shaped passage 33 whose flow cross section can be changed by adjusting the height of the flow body 24 in the spacer plate 4.

[0023] The water admitted by the inlet 1 is distributed as shown in FIG. 1 in the distributing chamber 22 into three streams A, B, and C. The two outer streams A and B pass through the open slots 14 of both adjusters 9 into the hollow bodies 10, then flow through the open slots 15 tangentially into the turbulence chamber 23 where they mix together and flow together into the funnel-shaped passage 33. The two joined streams exit from the outlet opening 30 of the outlet plate 6.

[0024] The third streams moves in the central throughflow passage 25 and is set to rotate by a spiral guide 26, then leaving the opening 28 of the flow body 27 and joins the two mixed-together streams A and B. The joining of the rotating stream C from the throughflow passage 25 ensures a uniform distribution of the spray droplets in the spray cone that is produced.

[0025] According to how the adjusters 9 are set, the sizes of the flow cross sections of the slots 14 and 15 vary, as does the amount of turbulence in the joined streams A and B between minimal and maximal values (see FIG. 2). On changing the adjustment angle α1 and/or α2 by means of the adjusters 9 the water-flow speed changes in the slots 15 presuming constant water pressure. An increase of the angles α1 or α2 or of both simultaneously decreases the effective size of the slot 15 and correspondingly increases the flow speed and thus the misting ability of the water. In this case there is a spray with mainly fine droplets that is in particular useful at the start of a fire. A decrease of the angle α1 or α2 or of both simultaneously decreases the water rotation and the flows work against each other. In this case there is a spray that is mainly large droplets.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows various embodiments of the flow body 24 with the use of a spiral guide 26. The flow body of FIG. 4a has tangential openings 34 in the forms of bores and no central passage 28. The throughflow passage 25 extends thus through the tangential openings 34 into the turbulence chamber 23.

[0027]FIG. 5 shows an apparatus according to the invention in which a flow body according to FIG. 4 is used, which has a hollow spray cone. The incoming water is again subdivided into streams A, B, and C. Streams A and B flow into the turbulence chamber 23.

[0028] The stream c flows into the flow body 24 and is there subdivided the tangential openings into streams C₁ to C_(n). The streams C₁ and C_(n) join in the turbulence chamber 23 and unit with the streams A and B. The joining of the streams takes place in this manner in the turbulence chamber 23 before exiting from the flow passage 34.

[0029]FIG. 4b shows the flow body 24 having in addition to the tangential openings 34 a slot cutout 40 in the flow-body head 27 or a profiling 41 which extends toward the flow funnel-shaped passage 33 or into it. The cutout 40 or the profiling 41 increases the turbulence of the moving water. Such a flow body produces a full spray cone.

[0030]FIG. 4c shows a flow body 24 in which an insert 35 with an opening 36 is provided. Such a flow body intensifies the turbulence in the output funnel-shaped passage 33.

[0031]FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of the partial streams according to the individual variants of FIGS. 4a through 4 c.

List of the Used Reference Numerals

[0032] Inlet 1

[0033] Top plate 2

[0034] Distributing-chamber ring 3

[0035] Spacer plate 4

[0036] Turbulence-chamber ring 5

[0037] Outlet plate 6

[0038] Bolts 7

[0039] Bores 8

[0040] Adjuster 9

[0041] Hollow body of 9 10

[0042] Adjustment arm of 9 11

[0043] Brake mechanism 12

[0044] Wall of 10 13

[0045] Inlet slot opening 14

[0046] Outlet slot opening 15

[0047] Axis 16

[0048] Pin 17

[0049] Bore 18

[0050] Shoulder of 10 19

[0051] Seal and bearing washer 20

[0052] Seal and bearing disk 21

[0053] Distributing chamber 22

[0054] Turbulence chamber 23

[0055] Flow body 24

[0056] Passage 25

[0057] Spiral guide 26

[0058] Flow-body head 27

[0059] Outlet opening of 27 28

[0060] Cutout of 6 29

[0061] Outlet opening 30

[0062] Output cone 31

[0063] Separation edge 32

[0064] Output passage 33

[0065] Tangential opening 34

[0066] Part 35

[0067] Opening 36

[0068] Insert in 10 37

[0069] Flow deflector 38

[0070] Snap ring 39

[0071] Cutout in 27 40

[0072] Profiling in 27 41

[0073] Adjustment mechanism 42

[0074] Adjustment angle α1

[0075] Adjustment angle α2

Following 8 Pages of Drawing 

Patent claims
 1. A method of applying liquid media, in particular extinguishing liquids like water or the like in the form of a mist or a large-droplet stream from an open line fed through a shutoff valve by a low-pressure supply line into spaces, in particular living or household rooms or the like to fight fire where the pressurized extinguishing liquid is split into individual streams and these streams are separately set in rotation and as a result the streams are combined to form a spray cone, characterized in that the turbulence intensity and the ratio of small and large droplets in the spray are adjusted between zero and a maximal value by adjustment the flow volume and the flow speed of at least two streams (A and B) of the extinguishing liquid and joining these streams with at least one other stream ©), and that the adjustment operation is controlled dynamically in accordance with development of the fire.
 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the streams (A and B) are adjusted separately or synchronously, the separate controlling of one of the streams being able to produce a half spray cone.
 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the streams (A, B, and C) are adjusted between a maximal and minimal value.
 4. The method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stream (C) is subdivided into multiple individual substreams (C₁ . . . C_(n)).
 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the substreams (C₁ . . . C_(n)) are conducted before being joined together.
 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal generator can be an ionization smoke-detector, an optical smoke detector, a maximum-temperature detector, a temperature-differential detector, or a flame detector.
 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume of flow and the speed of flow of the individual streams is first set at a turbulence density that produces a mist.
 8. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 having a support with an inlet for connection via a shutoff valve to a supply line maintained under a continuous low pressure, a flow body forming a throughflow passage, and a turbulence chamber surrounding the flow body, a stream of the extinguishing liquid passing at all times through the throughflow passage and part of the time through the turbulence chamber, characterized in that the flow body (24) and the turbulence chamber (23) are downstream of a common distributing chamber (22) and that the distributing chamber (22) and the turbulence chamber (23) are connected by an adjuster (9) which controls the flow cross section of an upstream opening (14) into the distributing chamber (22) and of a downstream opening (14) into the turbulence chamber and which is connected to its own or a common signal generator.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the adjuster (9) is formed of a closed-end cylindrical hollow body (10) with axially extending slot openings (14 and 15) into the distributing chamber (22) and into the turbulence chamber (23), an axially extending pivot shaft (16) for pivoting the hollow body (10), an adjustment mechanism (42) for synchronously adjusting the hollow cylinders with their slots (14 and 15) in the chambers (22 and 23).
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the adjuster (9) is formed of at least two end-closed cylindrical hollow cylinders (10) with axially extending slot openings (14 and 15) into the distributing chamber (22) and into the turbulence chamber (23), respective axially extending pivot shafts (16) for rotating the hollow bodies, respective adjustment arms (11) fixed on the pivot shafts for separately adjusting the flow cross section of the slots (14 and 15), and an arresting mechanism (12) for fixing the adjusted position of the adjustment arm.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the slits (14 and 15) are separate or formed as a common throughgoing opening, the flow cross section for the extinguishing medium being determined by the individual openings through the spacer plate (4).
 12. The apparatus according to claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the support body is comprised of an outlet plate (6) with a central outlet opening (28), a turbulence-chamber ring (5), a spacer plate (4), a distributing-chamber ring (3), and a top plate (2) that are held together on the top plate (2) by peripherally distributed bolts (8).
 13. The apparatus according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the hollow body (10) has a floor formed as an insert (35) that is provided internally with a flow deflector (36).
 14. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the top plate (2) is provided near its outer periphery with diametrally opposite bores (8) which extend through the distributing-chamber ring (3), the spacer plate (4), and the turbulence-chamber ring (5) and which receive the hollow bodies (10) of the adjustment device.
 15. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the rotary shaft (16) on the hollow body (10) has a smaller diameter than the hollow body (10) than that of the pin (17) and the hollow body (10) is sealed in the bore (8) at both ends with sealing and bearing disks (20 and 21).
 16. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 15, characterized in that between the rotary shaft (16) and the hollow body (10) there is a shoulder (19) against which the seal and bearing washer (20) bears and that engages the top plate (2).
 17. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 16, characterized in that the sealing and bearing disk (21) is provided between the outlet plate (6) and the hollow body (10).
 18. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 17, characterized in that a funnel-shaped opening (29) flaring toward the flow body (24) is provided in the outlet plate (6) and opens into the outlet opening (29) which merges into an outlet flare (31) with a separation edge (32).
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the outlet flare (31) has a frustoconical or other shape.
 20. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 19, characterized in that the flow body (24) has a frustoconically downstream-tapered outlet opening (28) that extends of far into the funnel-shaped outlet passage (29) that between the flow-body head (27) and the funnel-shaped passage (29) there is a funnel-shaped passage (33), the outlet opening (28) of the flow body (24) and the outlet opening (30) of the outlet plate (6) being axially aligned with the inlet (1).
 21. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 20, characterized in that the flow body (24) is mounted in axial alignment with the inlet (1) in the spacer plate (4) to adjust the flow cross section of the funnel-shaped opening (33).
 22. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 21, characterized in that the flow cross section of the outlet opening (28) of the flow body (24) is substantially smaller than the flow-cross section of the outlet opening (30 of the outlet plate (6).
 23. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 22, characterized in that the throughflow passage (25) is throughgoing and central of the flow body (24).
 24. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 23, characterized in that a spiral guide (26) producing twist is provided in the throughflow passage (25).
 25. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 8 to 24, characterized in that the throughflow passage (25) in the flow body (24) has tangential openings (34) through which the extinguishing medium flows and that communicate with the turbulence chamber (23).
 26. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 25, characterized in that a part (35) with openings (36) is provided in the throughflow passage (25).
 27. The apparatus according to one or more of preceding claims 8 to 25, characterized in that the flow body (24) has cutouts (40) or a profiling (41) on its closure-body head (27) extending into the funnel-shaped passage (33).
 28. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the signal generator is an ionization smoke-detector, an optical smoke detector, a maximum-temperature detector, a temperature-differential detector, or a flame detector. 